Bell, Jeff Taylor

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: July 2, 2025
• Docket: WR-96,707-01
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS NO. WR-96,707-01

EX PARTE JEFF TAYLOR BELL, Applicant

ON APPLICATION FOR A WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS CAUSE NO. 20-06-06597 IN THE 359TH DISTRICT COURT MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Per curiam.

OPINION

Applicant was convicted of accident involving personal injury or death (Count 1) and

intoxication manslaughter (Count 2) and sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment. The Ninth Court of

Appeals affirmed his conviction. Bell v. State, No. 09-22-00154-CR (Tex. App.—Beaumont Sept.

13, 2023, no pet.) (not designated for publication). Applicant filed this application for a writ of

habeas corpus in the county of conviction, and the district clerk forwarded it to this Court. See TEX.

CODE CRIM. PROC. art. 11.07.

Applicant contends that appellate counsel failed to advise him of his right to file a pro se

petition for discretionary review. Based on the record, the trial court has determined that appellate

counsel’s performance was deficient and that Applicant would have timely filed a petition for 2

discretionary review but for counsel’s deficient performance.

Relief is granted. Ex parte Wilson, 956 S.W.2d 25 (Tex. Crim. App. 1997); Ex parte Crow,

180 S.W.3d 135 (Tex. Crim. App. 2005). Applicant may file an out-of-time petition for

discretionary review of the judgment of the Ninth Court of Appeals in cause numbers 09-22-00154-

CR and 09-22-00155-CR. Should Applicant decide to file a petition for discretionary review, he

must file it with this Court within thirty days from the date of this Court’s mandate.

Copies of this opinion shall be sent to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice–Correctional

Institutions Division and the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Delivered: July 2, 2025 Do not publish